Method and apparatus for making automobile door panels



May 8, 1956 E. WOODBURN 2,744,564 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTOMOBILE DOOR PANELS Filed Oct. 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. IQALPH E. Wooosue/v ATTORNEY May 8, 1956 WOODBURN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTOMOBILE DOOR PANELS 4 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Oct. 22, 1952 N M w mo VO WW w s K F M W R M m P wfl m 7 W 4 a 5 4/ I A -HWI... m llllllllflu u HM m .555 u 55 n m .LL: 0 lhh 4 O y 1956 R. E, WOODBURN 2,744,564

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING AUTOMOBILE DOOR PANELS Filed Oct. 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VEN TOR.

RALPH E. WOODBU/ZN ATTOPNE).

United States Patent METHODANDA'PPARLAWUS:FQRtMAdKING Auromomwtnoonnmnns This; inuentionzrelates: tosanimproved: upholstered panel -fertautomobilefbodies;=and;morezparticularly-forlthe inside surface of automobile body door, and an improved-methodaand apparatus-for makingssuch panel;-

tThewvalue;ofeamodernipassengerautomobile is greatly enhanced .hytthezappearancerot-its sexteriorias :well as intterior. iStrenuous .:efforts of :automobile body 1 designers are directed not only towardiirnproving the exteiioraaptpearanee ofzanautomob'ile"butzalsofto make-the interior atheneof, :including" its 1 upholstery, mote lluxui'ious and ,pleasant looking; preferably without addingfiappreeiably to thecost of the vehicle. w 1 j .0negof the tinstancesl'tonwhichz efforts :of bo'dy designers zaeerdireeted isithesinsidezsurface ofsautomobile doorsmntt-lerzthe zglazedrportion thereof, "-which surface is df con- :si'derahle earea and 'invites:provisionto'f a p'leasing ornamental design. Ornamental ihardware for {the window ritegulatorsgand door. locks areiprovidetl on tliis-zsurface and variousromamemalrdesignszare .usually incorporated into zthe zupholstery of 'this.;-surface. Upholsteiingof this surface is usually done by connecting to it an upholstered tpanel that may the :s'epa-rately produced :and uphol stered it'hereupon attached itoi the .inner. sidet o'f the door 5 in -one:of-;the:several methods well known in the arty' The :ornamental :designs usually employed 'for these :panelsiinclude headed or striped 'porti-ons, -whih portions :are :oftenzprovided onsseparate smaller= panels assembled ztothedoorzpanel.

Provision :of :headed panels or 1 portions is :connected with ccgonsidera-ble manufacturing:difliculties. l hemsual iwayrofrproviding;su-ehrbeaded portionsiisrto:'covena'panel -withzazmatte'd'material, 'covering therrnat with a stiitable tupholsterwmaterial andvstitching" the upholstery anld'-the 411211710 theibase'of the panel withthe 'usebdfta sewing maachine, prov-idingzavnumber-pfparallel seams therc'on'fi In the-process 33f ssewing, the rrnat'iis compressed 'along the seam and is stitchedrtoithetcardboardywhile 'the;portion 2 f .thelm-at-hetween therseams remainstuncompressedrand st-hereforetextendstor;bulgessaway;'fromttheibaseathuspro- Nidingappearance of;a;raisedtbead. v

Another tcommon rmfithod of providing ssuch theatied panels is to provideifirst. a. cardboard elm-fiber hoard :base

' and-tosecure toit atnumheriofstripstofisimilartmaterial,

.andtheteupon to coventhe entire panelwithan upholstery cloth, WithStitching ofthelclothtto thetcardboardzbaseiat the groo ves forrnedbetween thestrips. r

lthasfbeen jfound,,how.ever, ,thatin .both or. the above described expedients, matting Land stitehingofthepanels 'is arather annoying and expensive operationlnotalways producing desired results. Ithas'been @EPreciated,-for..in-

stanee,'that when-stitching'is used onpanelslin whichtthe -cores of the bea'ds-arefformedby strips ofrcardboard .or

tion, the stretching'condition" of the cl'o'th'imthegrooves 1 crea-tes a tendency in the materialtoreturnto itsoriginal "unstretchetl condition unless it i is heldin the groove by some permanent means such as the seam itself. However, islrouldany -ofi-the'threads of "s uch'a seam become broken, themateiitl pdlls itself out of thegroovesfdestroying the desired appearance of the panel. V I

Attempts ha-ve been made to use forming dies" with ribbed surfaces, with the ribs' being intended to push fthe upholsteryim'aterial into the grooves. However; fit vyas founddhat suchan expedient is'suitableonlyfor prdducing panels having impractically shallow "groottes, since when grooves of 'proper depth werelatternptedft'o be formed with the aid of such diesfthr'a; upholstery material wasoverstretchedmnd broken, oratlleast'so badly' destroyed -astomake such panels unsuita bleffor use-mante- I mobile bodies. I 'One' of the objects of the-present invention isto provide an improved doorpanel andaime'thod' add machineifor manufacturing the same, whereby i the .above difficulties and disadvantages are "eliminated-and improved be'aded panels areproduced inagreatly superior-manner.

' A'notheriobject'of'the presenfinvention is to provide an 1 improved automobile cloorpanel'in'cllrding beadedportiorts,:'in whichthe upholsterymaterial:coveringitfiefib is laid intothe-grooves between the "beadsjwithout "stretchedinthe'processtheredfandtherefo' l: the groove without the material.showingsatendenbyto ptlllitselftout-therefrom. "a V I I Affurther'object of thelpresent'i nvention is .to .provide an improved door panel including beaded portions which panel,may include a.relativlyha1id base strip "forgth e -beads and yet-whencover'e'd .withupholstery cloth presents a lfu'll andrich appearance without distortingthe weaee of the cloth, showing sharp corners of the base strips and Zflatteningthe entire design. thus; imparting to .it: an inferior appearance. I p v A. still .further .objectv of: the; present invention tistto prolvide .an improved method. and 2 a 1 machine ifor produeing beaded upholstered \panels, .particularly panels ,for, automobile doors,\wherehytthe:beadedmortions of Lthe panel I ateproducedina. simple. and inexpensive manner withlthe panels so produced presenting full andtrich,appearancetin spiteof inexpensivetmater-ials.thanmay per used.

. A. stillifurther. object-of the; present inventiontis 504 130- ,yide an improved .machine of the (nature specified intthe preceding. paragraph, which machine ioperates :tOtOUrC tthe-cernent of.therupholsterymaterial tothezbaseao fathe ggrooves the process of'zlayingdheamaterialztheliein.v

- 'Asst-illrfurther'object-of the..presenttinventiomis=to protvide :an improved :method zandismachine for covering :beaded tIpanls iwith lupholstery cl'oth, whereby *the floth imayl'be-applied= to'panels having -'grooves"of-'suh 'a depth that use of any eon-ventionalmethod ahdmacliineswould V he totally imprac'ticabl'e.

similar material, stitching of themateriallresults linits the'ornamental-desigmprovided'onthematerial. "In addi i A still further object ofthe present inventionis to provide =anirnproved machine for makin g'upholsteredpanel's for automobile doors including. beaded portions, and particularlyfor covering "said beaded portions with an upho'lstery material, which irnacliine can "be easily adapted -or :changed to cover suchjpanls having various .designs or "arrangement of beads. v t

It is 'antadde'd object of the presentinvent-ion. to,provide an improved automobile door panel and.a.machineffo r making the same, which are simple in construction, dependable intoperation and relativelylinexpensive to.manu- "fa'cture and to maintain. p i

Further objects and advantages ,of this; invention .will 'be apparent .from' the following descriptionaand appended claims, reference ibeing had to the :aceonjpanying draw -ings"forrning a part offthis specification, where'in'like refcrencc characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view showing an automobile door upholstered panel including a beaded portion made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing on an enlarged scale the beaded sub-panel or the beaded portion separately.

Fig. 3 shows a cardboard base for the panel of Fig. 2 having glue applied to it for securing the bead material sheet thereto.

Fig. 4 shows the method and the apparatus for cutting the grooves in the bead material sheet between the glued portions thereof and cutting out narrow strips from the bead material sheet, thus producing grooves and beads in the panel base.

Fig. 5 shows the base for the panel before the same is covered with upholstery cloth.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the method of covering the beaded panel base with a substantially unstretched upholstery material.

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a portion of a machine for producing a 5 beaded panel.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a complete machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an end view ofthe machine of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the machine of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a plate. sub-assembly for making a 12 head panel with a different width of beads, which sub-assembly can be substituted in the machine of Figs. 8-10 for the corresponding sub-assembly adapted for making a 5 beaded panel.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate modified methods and machines of a modified construction contemplated by the present invention with the groove-forming plates thereofbeing shown in their raised or fully retracted positions.

Figs. 12a, 13a and 14a illustrate, respectively, the machines of Figs. l2, l3 and 14 but showing their beadforming grooves in their fully raised or retracted position.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In accordance with the invention I provide an improved method and machine for manufacturing beaded upholstered panels and particularly such panels as are used in automobile doors. The present invention contemplates making, in an improved manner, the beaded panel base as well as application of upholstery material for covering the panel, and particularly of upholstery materials which are substantially unstretchable such as fabrics, oilcloth, imitation leather, and the like. In making the beaded panel base I discard the conventional practice of glueing to the cardboard or fiber sheet the strips that form cores for the beads, since aligning such beads is a very tedious job not always producing proper arrangement of the heads. I glue to the cardboard or fiber sheet another full sheet of beading material, the glue being applied to either of the sheets in streaks or lines to provide glue only between the sheets in places where the beads are located, but to have no glue in places of grooves. After two sheets are thus glued together, I cut out strips of the beaded material equal in width to the width of the grooves, thus forming such grooves when these strips are removed.

In applying upholstery material to the beaded panel base, which material is usually unstretchable, I discard the former practice of sewing down such material or forcing such material into the grooves with the aid of conventional forming dies. In accordance with the invention I push this material in with the aid of a number of independently slidable plates or blades in a successive manner, one head after another, thereby permitting the material to be drawn from one side to compensate for the amount of material pushed into the last completed groove, thereby covering the entire panel without stretching the material. Grooves of virtually any practicable depth may be produced with the aid of my improved method, such for instance, as grooves up to one inch or even more deep, as may be desired in upholstering seat cushions, and in similar applications.

In accordance with the invention I also provide a machine in which there is provided a work table adapted to receive and locate the panel and a sliding plate assembly with the plates intended to operate as explained above to cover with upholstery material a beaded panel of a predetermined type. The plate sub-assembly has to be changed for different types of beaded portions of door panels. Heating means are provided to heat the plates and thus to apply heat at the grooves of the panel to produce a more secure glueing or cementing of the material thereunto.

In accordance with the invention forming of the grooves may begin either at one extremity of the panel and proceed from one extremity thereof to the other, or it may be commenced at the middle portion thereof, and proceed toward the extremities thereof.

The machine contemplated by the present invention may be of a mechanical nature using cams, springs, levers or similar means, or they may be of a fluid-operated type, pneumatic or hydraulic.

In the drawings there is shown by way of example a panel manufactured in accordance with the present invention and apparatus for making the beaded panel base, as well as a machine for covering the bead pane base with upholstery material.

Referring specifically to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates an automobile door panel generally designated by the numeral 15 and made in accordance with the present invention.

Said door panel 15 has provided therein an ornamental beaded panel portion 16. In the door panel illustrated, said portion 16 is made as a separate piece and is thereupon inserted in its place in the panel 15. The panel portion 16, shown separately in Fig. 2, comprises the base sheet 17 of cardboard, fiber, or a similar sheet material, to which there are connected in any suitable manner such as by glueing or cementing, a plurality, in the present instance five, of strips 18 extending parallel to each other and having grooves such as 19 provided between them. The panel 16 is covered with a substantially unstretchable upholstery cloth, generally designated by the numeral 20, which cloth is wrapped over the edges of the panel as shown at 21 and is secured thereto on the back side of the panel by glueing, ccmenting, stapling, or in any other suitable manner.

The cover material 20 is pressed into depressions or grooves 19 without stretching the material. By virtue of such an expedient the ornamental design provided on the upholstery material, or the weave of the cloth thereof or other surface ornamentations that may be provided thereon, are "not distorted. Moreover, the material 20 is arranged in the grooves 19 by pushing it therein against negligible resistance, and therefore it wraps the beads without being so tightly drawn around the same as to show sharp corners of the bead bases through the upholstery material, but on the contrary presenting full and rich appearance. By virtue of such an expedient my improved automobile door panel in spite of the use of less expensive materials presents a greatly superior appearance than conventional automobile door beaded panels usually do, and it retains its beaded design for a much longer period of time.

Making of my improved automobile door beaded panel comprises generally two main processes: first, making of the beaded panel base as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,

ezgmseen .5 tandisecondneeverin'g the-.headedipanelrhasezso produced with .a substantially i-nnstretchable upholstery (elem :in 2a :mannerlillnstrateddn Eigs..-6.and 'l- J11 'laccordanee with the zinvention'iI ifirst provide ;a base reheat :17 which may {be produced thy; stamping :operations, tprefcrably' withtthe,use of1therruletdies. Thereupon, I sapplygglue to the sheet 117 {inlinesaorzstreaksnsuch assimdicated at in Fig. 3, preferablysnsing glueingarollers. Iherenpon, .I ;place1,over the sheet .17 a-sheetofaheadxma- -terial generally designated :hy (the numeral 26,1causing .thesheet H26..-and.the sheet :17 ,torbetgluedt together implaces .where rthe 'beads are to be produced, but :not -where :the groovesrare intended to be.

Therenpon, the assembled sheets are -.operated lip- D .in..a rmachine illustrated in (Fig. 4-randiincluding two eutting circular bladesorrollers .27 which 2313611011831 with pressure applied .to them to=,cut-- strips-,snchasg28vbetween .theglued portions 25-and in plaees where groovesor 1depres sions :het-ween lthe beads are :to :he )PI'QdUQQd. After .the .cuhout stripsl28 are removed,rtheibaserpanelgacquires beaded appearance as illustrateddn :Fig.;5.

Applying tthe tupholstery aCOYdI sheet .20 --.to 31116 rbeaded panel base .is; illustrate d in Figs. 6 land .7 flndrisrglqnewvith .thesaid of, independently-sliding;platestor bladesifl. A every important feature of my improved :JPIQCQSS :resides in the fact that the plates are not applied simultaneously as are the ribs of forming dies previously used,rbn,t 531'6 movedyindependentlyand applied successively, --gone by .one, ;with .oneof {the plates being pushed allqhe way adown i HtO'Ihe I groove, such .as shown in :Figs. :6 ;and fl, before {the \next ;plate.,contacts I116 cover :sheet .20.

.Eor, application .of the .blades, the.-she,et 2.0 (is -sarranged .on ethe .beaded panel base with one of its :side edges sube antially aligned-.withthe edge *1-7a.-of the panel-with suff cient overlap to wrap :itoverunderv the edges of1the-,panel, tastshown-at .21. =withrthe=edge 21 being -.thus held do the panel, the .first gyplate ,30 is applied ;to .the ;sheet .20 no :push .the .upholstery material tall ';the .way :down into the groove .12, in consequence whereof.th8'uP 0l te 3Y*ma terial is pulled from the lefthand side as indicated :hy;ar- Jew ,in 13. 6 rcon pensating for the :aITlQUDtDf tmaterial pushed-intothegroove. Thesecond platefimistnowyready .to tcontact the upholstery material {and to .push -it .into ,the second .groove. With theseeond ;plates rheinggin place gasp-indicated in .Fig. -7,, the :t-hird plate '30 tismowrreadywto Jae -;pushed into the third groove, repeating (the cycle. ,When .the third plate is pushed .all the way down ;into the groove, -,the last or fourth ,plate is applied tozthe :GlOlh .in-azsimilar manner. As the plates 30:a.13e tbeing :pushed ;down-in,to-.theirrespective grooves,- the zclothizlfl .iszm ved &

,in Isteps-from (the llefthand side of the upholstery material base until allrthe plates .are in place. Its hould. be .noted, that untilsthepreviously aetuatedplate is'all rthe may down the next eplate should not-exertzany pressum 9X1 tthe ,upholsteny :material.

at is preferahleto apply some .glue :or .eement '10 .the thottoms .of .the grooves .19, which :maythedone .with .the .aidofsuitable wheels or ,rollers,.and rtorhave the plates 3,0 .heated .to a predetermined temperature. With .the

tthegluemsets withina very short period ,of time,..such.. as ,onehr two minutes depending .on the .material and the glue. .Thereupon, the plates '30 are removed from the grooyesyand the panel is completed .by wrapping the edges .of @the ltpholsteryrnaterial around the .basesheet and .connecting .them thereto, as mentioned.

Qne riorm of tthe machine .for :application .of, the substantially .unstretchahle upholstery material to :the beaded panel base and thus carrying out the methodldis- .closed :ahove; is illustrated in .Figs. 8-1 1. Fig. v'7, although mused :for illustrating ;the method .explainedahove, is, ,in rodent, also .a diagram illustr ting -..the: action of -.the mazehine of figs. 81 11 and :therefore, tthe :same mutnerals are applied in said figure to the parts thereof correspondingtto those ofdhesm'achine :ofsEigs. iS-Jl.

ill)

: ssupportawwor'k table 3'9rada-ptedtoreceiveand to locate :the :work :panel with :respect te "the sliding plates '30. Locating of the panel on the work table 39 maybe ef- -ected:with2the aid of cornerstops, pins,- or sirnilarmeans. ll he rslid-ing :.-plates 330 are :arranged -'to have their =ends :slide in send guidelboardsflfl, wliile' their intermediate tportions slide vin:guides-:4|1 :adapted to prevent side buckling lofitherplates dfl-and to hold-them together. "The -hori- .-ZOIltal members Z1 37, Pthe work table 139, the plate guides and the platestthemselves arethus connected'together and 215 'z'fonm atsub-assembly :which' maybe removed and inserted into the machine as a single unit.

if he i plate =sub -asserribly .tcomprises a: plurality, in the present instance tfour, of :metal plates :or i blades 30 yertti'callylslidable;inrguidesfi40 and 541,:as mentioned. Springs .20 fin-two for eachpfrthe plates *30 at both ends 'thereof,

:.are provided, :each-of zsaid springs having .a lower end .connectedto the :top of ;the .plate .30 and anupper end -supportedion' the bar -@'46 which is, in turn, supportedon :the frame of the :machine. .Electrical heating means,

'725 -such as'theating elements "47, are:provided:oneach plate.

Elements :47 preferably extend :throughout the :entire length of each plate near the lower xedge thereo'fto prowide tfor uniformrheating-ofthe lower:edge of the plate. 'i'lihermostaticzmeans 48are :provided on each plate 30 (30 etocontroldts'heating element fl and'thusto maintain the rplate 305mm predeterniinedrtemperature.

iItzwill znow'betseen in yiew of thevforegoing thatwhen tthe upper :ends 1 of 1 the springs 45 are disconnected :from :the bar846, the'plates with their guides and heatingmeans,

togethertwithithezworkingi'table1&9 and the guides '40 *and Alamayrbe removed @from'the machinezand stored as a: unit similarly ito idie :apparatus including the punch and die portions. Fhereupon another set of plates and work table such as illustrated in Fig. ll =-an'd designed for a panel with different character -'of beads 'may be inserted in the mac hineand connected thereto withthe aid of editable bolts for performance of anotherfjob.

Means are provided to pushdown the plates 30 successively; that is, one -bead after another. In the ;present embodimentasaid meansare of-the cam type and comprise a slifdable ramslidable horizontally but restrained from =upward --movements. The ram includes cam bars havingtwo straight portions'51 and 53, 'andacam portion -52 arranged between said straight portions. When the Tram-is .in a positiontohave itsstraightportion 53 contact the top edges of.all of "the plates '30, it operates as .a sto thereforrwith springs 45 keeping 'the plates in their -upperrnost;position. Tithe ramjis moved to the left, its cam portion 52 contacts plates '30 and pushes them one after another into the rooves .19. When the cam-bars .50 are alllthe way .to thelleft.andtheir,straighnportions:51 .eontact the tupper edges of.. the plates 30, said plates -30 .are hldvdown .in.the;.grooves.forlthe purposes explained plates, 'beingpheamd and d in place in m grooves, above. Movingtheramwithits.bars 50 allthe waystothe .right .releases plates ,31, .one after another, and permits .themiocomeallthe way upmntil they :are .1StOPPCdzb-Y the .straight portion. 5.3.

:Means; areprovided .to, move the ram with its cambars 50in. azdesiredmanner. Inethe'present embodiment-of the invention .said means .are exemplified by .a ,rao'k :55 asecured stothe: rarmof which the .bars .50 form-the side-metn- :bers .and cross bars-.56 \form -,the end :members. A pinion .57 esecured totheshaft ;5 8-e,nga-ges therackESS. The shaft :58 lis journaled-in bearings :59, as isbest shown; in Figs. 9 .and .10. .A handle 60 is provided .on-the-free-endtofdhe -shaft 58. 'When :the shaft .518 is :rotated, which .ginrthe present tembiodiment wet :the invention is done manually with-the aiidtofithezhandle-tfifl, zthe ram moves '10 the right torttottheleft, vas desirednpushing stherplates .downor per- 7 mitting the springs to pull them up into their uppermost or retracted position.

It will be understood that means actuating the plates may be of the cam type as well as of other types, such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders operating either individual plates or cam or lever means acting on the plates.

It will also be understood that while the present embodiment of the machine shows means pushing the plates from one side of the bead assembly to the other, said plates may be pushed from the middle of the material toward both of the edges thereof. With such an expedient, particularly useful when the number of the beads is large, the operation may be performed much faster.

Machines of such a nature are shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12 and 12a, the machine illustrated therein utilizes a plurality, in the present instance six, of substantially identical springs mounted on the ram 61. The springs are designated in pairs by numerals 62, 63 and 64. Spring plungers 62a, 63a and 64a of different lengths are provided to prevent said buckling of the springs, and to have them normally compressed to different lengths, with springs 62 being least compressed and extending downwardly to a further distance, while the springs 63 and 64 are compressed to shorter lengths as illustrated.

By virtue of such a construction, as the ram 61 is moved down, the two spring-pressed plungers 62a contact the two middle plates 65 and push them down into the grooves of the panel 66 arranged on the table 67. When the plates 65, 65 are all the way down in their grooves the springpressed plungers 63a contact plates 68, 68 and also push them all the way down. Thereupon, the plates 69, 69 are similarly contacted by the spring-pressed plungers 64a and also brought all the way down, bringing the plate subassembly into the condition illustrated in Fig. 12a.

It is preferable to have the springs of substantially similar dimensional and rate characteristics, and to have the plungers of the different lengths, as illustrated.

The plungers may be in the form of bolts, with their boltheads operating on the plates, and their operative lengths determined by the position of two jam nuts carried by their threaded ends. Washer plate 61a may be used if desirable. By virtue of such a construction successive contacting of the plates will be achieved and, in addition, when all of the plates are all the way down, a substantially uniform pressure is exerted on all of the plates as can be understood from examination of Fig. 12a,

since in the positions illustrated in said figure all of the springs are uniformly deflected. It will be understood that all of the springs should have suflicient rate i. e. be stiff enoug even in the positions of springs 63, 63 in Fig. 12 to actuate the plates against all operational resistances.

Fig. 13 illustrates a construction in which successive application of the plates 70 thereof is attained with the aid of a toggle linkage 71 normally maintained in its fully extended position by the action of the spring 72. The spring 72 is stiff enough to cause movement of the two middle plates, but is compressed as the ram 73 moves downward. As the spring 72 is compressed, the toggle linkage 71 contacts the next two plates and, finally, the extreme two plates and comes into a condition illustrated in Fig. 1311, where further pressure on the ram 73 exerts substantially uniform pressure on all of the plates 70.

Fig. 14 illustrates a machine in which the plates thereof, generally designated by the numeral 80, are actuated with the aid of fluid-operated means. In the construction illustrated, there is provided a plurality of fluid-actuated (pneumatic, hydraulic, or steam) cylinders corresponding in number to that of the plates. The cylinders are designated in the drawing by the numerals 81, 82, 83, 84, and 86. Within said cylinders there are slidably-fitted double-acting pistons having rods 81a, 82a, 83a, 84a, 85a

and 86a respectively, connected to their respective plates. The pressure conduit 87 is connected by branch conduit 88, 89 and 90 to each of the three pairs of cylinders with valves 91, 92 and 93 controlling said branch conduits respectively. Each of the branch conduits 91, 92, and 93 is branching into two conduits, as shown. The opposite sides of the cylinders are connected to a conduit 94 controlled by a single valve 95.

In operation, by opening the valve 93 the fluid under pressure is admitted into the cylinders 83 and 84 causing them to push the two middle plates downward. Thereupon, by opening the valve 89 the cylinders 82 and 85 are similarly operated, and finally by operating the valve 91 the cylinders 81 and 86 are also operated, pushing the extreme plates downwardly and thus bringing the device into the condition illustrated in Fig. 140.

For withdrawing the plates, the valve 95 is open for admission of pressure into the conduit 94 with simultaneous closing of the pressure valve 96 and opening the exhaust valve 97 to permit exhaust of the steam from the opposite sides of the cylinders.

By virtue of such a construction withdrawing of all of the plates is done quickly and simultaneously.

It steam is used, it may also be utilized for heating the plates which may be made hollow or jacketed as desired.

I claim:

1. The method of making a vehicle body door upholstery panel including a number of beads covered with upholstery material, said method including the steps of providing a panel base with raised portions forming cores for the beads and having grooves therebetween, arranging the upholstery cover material over said panel base and pushing said upholstery cover material into the grooves in successive arrangement, the material being pressed down into one groove first and then progressively pressed down into the adjacent and successive grooves, the pressing down being accomplished in one groove at a time, rather than in a simultaneous pressing down operation.

2. The method of making an automobile body upholstery panel including a number of beads covered with upholstery material, said method including the steps of providing a beaded panel base having depressions between the beads, applying the upholstery cover material to said panel base by pushing said material into the depressions starting with two adjacent depressions and proceeding therefrom in a successive arrangement to press the material down into the adjacent and successive grooves one after the other, the pressing down being accomplished substantially in one groove at a time rather than in a simultaneous pressing down operation.

3. The method of making an automobile body upholstery panel including a number of beads covered with upholstery material, said method including the steps of providing a flat piece of substantially rigid base material, applying glue to said fiat base piece only in places where beads are to be located, placing a piece of bead core material over the glued surface of the base piece, cutting out and removing strips of said head core material in places where grooves are desired to produce a beaded panel base, applying upholstery cover material to the beaded panel base by pushing said material into the grooves in successive arrangement, the material being pressed down into one groove first and then progressively pressed down into the adjacent and successive grooves, the pressing down being accomplished in one groove at a time rather than in a simultaneous pressing down operation.

4. The method defined in claim 3 and including applying glue into the grooves after the same are cut out and before the beaded base is covered with the upholstery cover material, to fix the upholstery material in the grooves.

5. The method of making an automobile body upholeme er 2'9 tster'y 71281161 including @a tnumber not rbeads tcevered with iuphols cry :material, :sai vmethcd'zinclud ng the as er r gprovidingmflatpieceof substantially zrigidtbasermaterial, applying ;glue :to esaid tbase ;,piece only in plaees-where beads .are =to rbe located, placing ,-.a piece of ahead score material tover :the glued surface .of the base, "putting .out and removing strips of said; bead core material in places .where grooves are desired, (to ,produce ,a beaded ,panel base, 1 covering ;the .beaded :base with aa -;piece of upholstery cover material and pressing said material into .the grooves successively one adjacent groove after another tor he ofithebeadedporticn, withzthezupholstery material at said -.-e.nd being left ,free -.to .'move bodily toward the groove wherein pressing in of the material takes place.

'6. The method of -ma-kingan-automobile body upholster-y panel including --a number -of beads covered with upholstery 'material, said methoddncluding the steps of providing a fiat piece -of base material, applying glue to said piece only-in placeswhere beads are to be-located, placing a piece of bead core material over the glued surface of the base, cutting out and removing strips of said head core material in places where grooves are desired, to produce a beaded panel base, covering the beaded base with a piece of upholstery cover material operatively aligning one edge of the material with one end of the panel, and pushing the upholstery material into the grooves between the beads starting with the groove at said aligned edges and progressing successively from one adjacent groove to another toward the opposite end of the panel, the pressing down being accomplished substantially in one groove at a time rather than in a simultaneous pressing down operation. 7

7. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said beads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and means to actuate said plates successively to have the previous plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate contacts the material over the next depression.

8. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said beads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and mechanical means adapted to actuate said plates successively to have the previous plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate pushes the material into the next depression.

9. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive the work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said beads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and means to actuate said plates successively to have the previous plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate begins to push the material into the next depresssion, means to heat said plates, and means to hold said plates in said depression for a desired period of time.

10. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base sl 3 li -isaid:rnachineacomprising a atzork table adapted to receive the work panel land :to placate =the :same, .a .aplurality 'Df slidable rplates ;.-having mork edges ,adapted when :aetuated :to push :the mpholstcny ;material tinto depressions :between (said :bea-ds awhen it-he .work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect :,to 1 said :plates, and means :to 1 actuate 38am plates successively to have the previous :Pla-te sitting the zupholstery :material all .the way;to the bottom sof t the .respective depressiomom the. beaded-base spanelrzbforezthe next plate, begins topush-thematerial intoathemextdepres- .sion, {electric means .to heat tsaid plates, :thermostatic .me'ans; adapted to r control .said ;electic rmeans ttotrnaintain .saidtplates ;at .a -required temperature, tand means" tol hold 'said; plates intsaid depression for 1a.desired;p,erio d-:of time.

:11. ,A machine :for applying :upholstery material ito :beaded base panels for 1 automobile .dOOIS, tsaidtmachine :comprisingHa-plate subrassemblyaincluding aiplnnalityrof plates corresponding in ;their thickness and :arrangement to.v those -,of-;the bead-determining depressions :onztheawork tpanela-meanssto support: saids subrassembly in :1the;machine, resilient means to maintain the plates in their retracted positions, a work-table adapted to receive the workpanel and to locate it with respect to said plates, and cam means adapted to actuate said plates successively one by one into said panel depressions to push the upholstery material thereinto, and to hold said plates in said depressions at least until all of the plates are in their retracted positions.

12. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels for automobile doors, said machine comprising a plate sub-assembly including a plurality of individually movable plates corresponding in their thickness and arrangement to those of the bead-determining depressions on the work panel, means to support said sub-assembly in the machine, resilient means to maintain the plates in their retracted positions, a work table adapted to receive the work panel and to locate it with respect to said plates, cam means adapted to actuate said plates successively one by one into said panel depressions to push the upholstery material thereinto, and to hold said plates in said depressions at least until all of the plates are in their retracted positions, electric means to heat said plates, thermostatic means to control said electric means to maintain said plates at a predetermined temperature.

13. The machine defined in claim 11, said plate subassembly being insertable and removable therefrom as a unit.

14. A machine forapplying substantially unstretchable upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a Work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said heads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and spings preloaded to progressively decreased lengths and adapted to actuate said plates successively, to have a plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate pushes the material into the next depression.

15. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said beads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and toggle linkage means adapted to actuate said plates successively to have one plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate pushes the material into the next depression.

16. A machine for applying substantially unstretchable upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individually slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said heads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and a corresponding plurality of fluid-operated cylinders operatively connected to said plates and adapted to actuate them successively to have the previous plate bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate pushes the material into the next depression.

17. A machine for applying upholstery material to beaded base panels, said machine comprising a work table adapted to receive a work panel and to locate the same, a plurality of individual slidable plates having work edges adapted when actuated to push the upholstery material into depressions between said beads when the work panel is located to have said depression aligned with respect to said plates, and mechanical means adapted to actuate said plates successively starting at the two middle plates and proceeding successively toward the edges of the panel to have one plate on each side bring the upholstery material all the way to the bottom of the respective depression on the beaded base panel before the next plate pushes the material into the next depression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,030 Haberstump Mar. 7, 1939 2,215.97 Osborn Sept. 24, 1940 2,303,195 Butt Nov. 24, 1942 2,347,806 Bolen et al May 2, 1944 2,578,709 Lyijynen Dec. 18, 1951 2,620,014 Lyijynen Dec. 2. 1952 

